Alexandria Events – May 2022
Main Attractions!
2nd Annual Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival
May 14th & 15th
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
John Carlyle Square
300 John Carlyle Street
thecarlylecommunity.com
The Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival is heading back to John Carlyle Square in 2022. All artwork is juried, which provides a higher level of quality, diversity and creativity of art on display, exemplifying the gifted artists in regions from all over the country. The show is rated as one of the top 100 art shows in Sunshine Artist Magazine. Please be mindful and follow all CDC guidelines.
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style
May 22nd
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
200-400 blocks of King Street
100 blocks of N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets
festivalspeedstylealex.com
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, presented by Burke & Herbert Bank, highlights the unique offerings of the Old Town community—history, architecture, great food, fabulous people, art, style and energy. All proceeds benefit USO Washington-Baltimore and ALIVE! View dozens of rare and exotic cars up close, made famous by their speed, performance and elegance. This will be enhanced by a presentation of style, fashion and live music provided by over 40 local merchants.
More Spring Events & Tours
First Thursday in Del Ray
May 5th
6 p.m.
Admission: Free
Various locations in Del Ray in Alexandria
First Thursday is a series of free outdoor street festivals that bring the community together around a fun theme, benefiting a local non-profit. The May theme is Dog Days in Del Ray. Be sure to bring your pooch.
Secret Garden Concert Series at The Rectory on Princess Street
Various Dates through June 23rd
5 and 6:30 p.m.
Admission: $25 to 45 per person
The Rectory
711 Princess Street
703-683-6040
classicalmovements.com
Classical Movements presents a series of live concerts and recitals at the Secret Garden of the Rectory on Princess Street, Classical Movements’ home in Old Town Alexandria. Classical Movements returns for a 40-concert season, extending from February 27 to June 23, 2022. The 2022 season features chamber music, recitals by stars of instrumental performance and opera, fascinating choral programs, jazz and more. The season features a starry line-up of acclaimed soloists, including members of the National Symphony, among many others.
Stories in the Architecture
May 15th
2 p.m.
Admission: $10 per person
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
614 Oronoco Street
703-548-1789
leefendallhouse.org
Explore the history of the Lee-Fendall House through its architecture and visit parts of the house that are not regularly open to the public. See how changes in style and home technology have left their mark on the home, from when it was built in 1785 through the twentieth century. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $10 per person. Members of Lee-Fendall House are free but must call or email to make a reservation at (703) 548-1789 or contact@leefendallhouse.org. Face masks are required inside the museum.
Workshops on the Waterfront
May 21st
1 to 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
Torpedo Factory Art Center (waterfront entrance)
105 N. Union Street
703-746-4590
Enjoy a free demonstration or hands-on project with a Torpedo Factory Art Center artist at the waterfront entrance of the Art Center. There will be a different project every month. Join in for sunshine, art-making and fun.
Spring Pop-Up Market for Mother’s Day
May 7th
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
Mount Vernon Ave. and E Oxford Ave.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Spring Pop-Up Market provides the chance to discover unique gifts made by local entrepreneurs and artisans. The market will occupy Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, the site of the weekly farmers’ market. For more information, visit visitdelray.com.
Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
May 13th – 15th
6 to 9 p.m.
Admission: Friday: $49 for members; $59 for non-members; Saturday: $53 for members; $63 for non-members; Sunday: $43 for members; $53 for non-members
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
703-780-2000
mountvernon.org
George Washington’s Mount Vernon invites you attend its most popular event of the year. Taste unlimited samples of wines from Virginia’s finest wineries. Bring a blanket and relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River and meet George and Lady Washington on the Piazza. VIP tables are available for purchase and include private waiter service. Public ticket sales begin March 7, 2022.
The Late Shift: Art & Technology
May 13th
7 to 10 p.m.
Admission: Free
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union Street
703-746-4590
torpedofactory.org
Celebrate the growing tech, DIY and makerspace movement happening in Alexandria and beyond, with music, drinks, and demonstrations. The event will feature makerspace and tech partners from across the DC, Virginia, and Maryland regions. Plus, welcome the Solo Exhibition artist in Target Gallery with a reception at 8 p.m.
Sips & Secrets: A Speakeasy Night
May 21st
7 to 10 p.m.
Admission: $65 to $115
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden
614 Oronoco Street
703-548-1789
leefendallhouse.org
Sips & Secrets honors Lee-Fendall House’s Prohibition-era history, when the home housed one of Alexandria’s liquor wholesalers (and possible bootleggers!). The event features fun speakeasy surprises, including dancing to live jazz and ragtime, and costume contest for the best flapper or mobster style, 1920s-style cocktails and more. This year, the event will raise funds for the repair of Lee-Fendall House’s 220-year-old brick garden wall, of which a 70-foot section collapsed last summer, while also supporting the museum’s ongoing work in historic preservation, education, and community engagement. Purchase tickets via Eventbrite here. A private VIP pre-reception will precede the main event. Current Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden members may attend as VIPs for the price of general admission; please email megan.ritter@leefendallhouse.org or call (703) 548-1789 for a registration code.
ABOUT ALEXANDRIA, VA
Named a Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2021 by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel and a walkable lifestyle—a welcoming weekend escape next to our nation’s capital. Founded in 1749, Old Town Alexandria is the nation’s third oldest locally designated historic district, boasting more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques alongside intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. At the heart of it all is bustling King Street, a walkable mile recognized as one of the “Great Streets” of America. Walk in the footsteps of George Washington and America’s Founding Fathers while learning about Black history and African American changemakers that have shaped the history of Alexandria and the U.S. Learn more at VisitAlexandriaVA.com.
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